The Burden Of Folly
1 Dead flies corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink. Even so, oft times, he that hath been had in estimation for wisdom and honour is abhorred because of a little foolishness.
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
1 Dead flies make a (A)perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.
1 Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;(A)so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
1 As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's heart is upon the righthand, but a fool's heart is upon the left.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish (B)man’s heart directs him toward the left.
2 A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left.
3 A doting fool thinketh, that every man doth as foolishly as himself.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his (a)sense is lacking and he (b)(C)demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,and he shows everyone he is a fool.(B)
3 Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool.
4 If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
4 If the ruler’s (c)temper rises against you, (D)do not abandon your position, because (E)composure allays great offenses.
4 If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your place,(C)for calmness puts great offenses to rest.(D)
4 If your overseer gets angry at you, don't resign, because calmness pacifies great offenses.
The Ironies Of Life
5 Another plague is there, which I have seen under the sun; namely, the ignorance that is commonly among princes:
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
5 Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer:
Accidents Happen'Even To Professionals
8 But he that diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein himself; and whoso breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
8 The one who digs a pit may fall into it,(H)and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.(I)
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall have travail withal; and he that heweth wood, shall be hurt therewith.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
9 The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
9 Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger.
Hard Work And Skill Alone Cannot Succeed'Wisdom Is Necessary
10 When an iron is blunt, and the point not sharpened, it must be whet again, and that with might. Even so doth wisdom follow diligence.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
10 If the (d)axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must (e)exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
10 If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,then one must exert more strength;however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
10 If someone's ax is blunt the edge isn't sharpened then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success.
The Consequences Of Foolishness
13 The beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the last word of his mouth is great madness.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly,but the end of his speaking is evil madness.
13 He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with evil madness.
14 A fool is so full of words, that a man cannot tell what end he shall make. Who will then warn him of it that shall follow after him?
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
14 Yet the (O)fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him (P)what will come after him?
14 Yet the fool multiplies words.No one knows what will happen,and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?(M)
14 The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it?
15 The labour of the foolish is grievous unto them, while they know not how to go in to the city.
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15 The struggles of fools weary them,for they don’t know how to go to the city.
15 The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town.
The Value Of Work
17 But well is thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for (R)drunkenness.
17 Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of noblesand your princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.(O)
17 That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth, whose princes feast at the right time, for strength, and not to become drunk.
18 Through slothfulness the balks fall down, and through idle hands it raineth in at the house.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
18 Because of laziness the roof caves in,and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
18 Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness.
19 Meat maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merry; but unto money are all things obedient.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and (T)wine makes life merry, and (U)money (k)is the answer to everything.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter,and wine makes life happy,(P)and money is the answer for everything.(Q)
19 Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to everything.
20 Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.
20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
20 Furthermore, (V)in your bedchamber do not (W)curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,(R)and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom,(S)for a bird of the sky may carry the message,and a winged creature may report the matter.
20 Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it.